The Cross Country rail franchise runs long-distance services connecting major settlements across the UK, including trains between Edinburgh and Plymouth via Bristol Temple Meads and Taunton.

The Department for Transport (DfT) is consulting on the franchise, currently operated by CrossCountry (run by Arriva UK Trains) and is up for review in December 2019.

Somerset councillors have agreed to lobby for services to stop at Bridgwater after this date.

Outside Bridgwater railway station (Image: Mike Taylor)

Bridgwater station is currently served by Great Western Railway (GWR) services, and handles more than 344,000 passengers per year, according to the Office for Rail and Road.

CrossCountry services pass through the station on the route between Taunton and Bristol Temple Meads, but none currently stop to pick up or set down passengers.

Dave Chapple, from the Friends of Bridgwater Station, raised the issue at a meeting of the full council in Taunton on Wednesday morning (July 18).

He said: "I wish to ask if the council will be taking part in the CrossCountry new franchise consultation, due to end on August 30, and if so can the council support the addition of Bridgwater as a CrossCountry train stop being included in the requirements for the new franchise.

"We are not looking for a reduction of stops at other stations, but that a percentage of CrossCountry trains would make an additional stop in Bridgwater."

Bridgwater train station platform

Mr Chapple said that the extra services would compliment the expected growth from the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station, which is currently being constructed.

He claimed that the proposal "had the full support" Bridgwater and West Somerset MP Ian Liddell-Grainger.

In a letter to transport secretary Chris Grayling MP, Mr Liddell-Grainger said that Bridgwater's economic growth and level of development made the case for additional services.

He said: "Although we have the West Somerset Railway, Bridgwater station is the only operational mainline station in my constituency, and is often missed out of stops for major services in favour of Taunton, because it is cited that there is a relatively short gap between Bridgwater and Taunton.

"I fully endorse the request that the consultation's conclusions ensure trains stop at Bridgwater and look at increasing the number of trains that stop there."

Bridgwater Town Council has also thrown its weight behind the proposal.

In a draft submission for the DfT, town clerk Alan Hurford said that there was "a strong case" for services to stop at Bridgwater after December 2019.

He said that, in addition to the Hinkley Point investment, the station's catchment area included "nationally important educational and training facilities" in the form of Bridgwater and Taunton College, as well as new businesses like the Mercure Hotel and the Huntspill Energy Park.

A First Great Western Train (Image: Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

He added that "significant overall housing and population growth" up to 2032, coupled with the proposed expansion of Bristol Airport, would necessitate the need for better transport infrastructure.

He estimated that journey times between Bridgwater and Bristol could be cut from 52 minutes (on the current GWR stopping service) to 25 minutes on CrossCountry services.

Councillor David Hall, cabinet member for economic development, planning and community infrastructure, said that the county council would take Mr Chapple's wishes into account when it responded to the consultation.

He said: "We will be submitting a consultation response and will raise the need for the franchise to enable increased frequency of stopping services at Bridgwater as a key issue.